Another Mother Runner Giveaway

We have a winner – I have notified the winner via email. Thank you so much for entering the Run Like a Mother Giveaway. Stay tuned here and on my YouTube Channel for upcoming giveaways.

When I first met Sarah Bowen Shea she and her running/writing partner Dimity McDowell had just finished their first book for moms who run. Run Like a Mother is a book with all of the answers, some you might have even been too embarrassed to ask your running partner about. The book is aimed at moms who are trying to juggle it all – kids, husband, home and work and still maintain their running life. Their follow-up book, Train Like a Mother, takes it one step further and helps those of us who want to do it all while still getting out there to compete against our best times.

Today, I am sharing my first ever YouTube Giveaway, brought to you by the moms at Another Mother Runner. There are so many ways to enter to win. Click on the video below to watch it and learn more about how to enter.

If you cannot see the video, please try refreshing your screen.

In addition to their books the Sarah and Dimity have created an incredible community of runners. Become a member of that community by joining their Facebook page.

If you like Ann’s Running Commentary – check out my cool new YouTube Channel. Do people still say that? Cool?

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About Ann Brennan

Ann Brennan is first and foremost a mom of three beautiful children. She is the managing editor of Beyond Limits Magazine and the creator of Ann’s Running Commentary. In 2012, Ann took Ann’s Running Commentary to new levels – first with a segment on the RunRunLive Podcast, chronicling her journey to her first Ironman and second, with a new channel on YouTube. Currently Ann is working on a non-fiction book series and working hard every day to remind people to get up, get active and get out there.

10 Responses to Another Mother Runner Giveaway

I do exactly that, Ann: I don’t think; just go! I’m taking advantage of my time that I have now before my husband and I start a family. I do have a (sometimes more than) full time job, a husband and always things to do around our home that I juggle with my running schedule, but it’s much easier than a lot of people’s schedule’s out there that have family and other circumstances. I still plan to run and be active when we have a family. So that is something that I will have to learn and prioritize when the time comes. I would love to win the Run Like a Mother and Train Like a Mother Books! If not, I’ll be buying them anyway! Thank you for sharing and all the advice and tips you give on your blog! I’m an avid follower!

How do I juggle it all? I get asked that all the time….
Easy answer: I don’t. I decide which balls don’t have to be in the air. Spotless floor? You won’t find one here. But, you will find a full training log.

For me it was just deciding that I was going to lose weight and get back into shape once and for all! I was sick and tired of yo yo dieting and feeling like crap!

I started a weight loss and fitness facebook group for West Point moms. It has really helped to have the support of a bunch of wonderful ladies who are all around the same age and have a common bond. We are all in different stages of weight loss and fitness levels. Our focus is on long term lifestyle change rather than a quick diet mentality.

I am NOT a good long distance runner. I have always been a sprinter; state high hurdle and 100 meter champion in high school….and coached track for years at the middle and high school level. But as I’ve aged, sprinting is harder on my body. I still do it for HIIT training, but now I am focusing on distance. I did my first 5K last August at West Point. I weighed 198 lbs. I couldn’t run the entire thing, and I had trained so much, being too heavy, that I injured myself badly by the time I was done. So I took a month off to rest, and focused more on changing my diet rather than exercise. As I lost weight, I slowly started back in with low impact aerobics and weights. As my muscles strengthened back up and the pain from the injuries went away, I added back in some jogging. I know it may not seem like a lot to you avid runners, but I can now run 30 minutes without stopping and then do some sprint interval training at the end of the run. My goal is to run at least 2-3 5Ks this summer, which by that time I should have achieved my final weight goal of losing 50 lbs. I am at 35 lbs lost as of today.

My niece is a distance runner for the College of Idaho and I have always envied her ability to run! I find that I am getting “hooked on running” now and I actually miss it when I can’t run. I do intersperse my workouts with Zumba and other high impact aerobics, but I have found that running is quite relaxing, especially when the weather is nice and I can run outside. At some point, I am going to do a relay with my niece and other family members. Each leg runs about 2-3 miles. I can handle that and some day, who knows? I might just be doing a marathon!

So I am juggling a full time job, two teenage daughters (they were a bit younger when I started out) and working on a PhD. I used to think that I could find a way to get that perfect “balance” and do everything, but truth be told, you pick and choose your battles (like Mara). Like her, my house is not spotless (not by a long shot).

First – I commit myself to the task – I run primarily for me and remind myself that I ALWAYS feel better when I finish the run. I feel better, my stress level is lower when I get out there. And sometimes, I come up with my best school or work solutions while putting in a few miles.

Second – Don’t be too hard on yourself…sometimes you NEED a break. If you miss a workout don’t beat yourself up – get out there tomorrow and get back in it. Sometimes the other stuff needs to take priority.

Third – Be creative about when to go. The best time of day to run (particularly long run) and not interrupt family time for me was before the family gets up (teenagers tend to sleep in) – I would run early in the morning before they were up and about. Then I had the rest of the day to do the other stuff. I also doubled up my run time with family time. I used to (and plan to start again) run with my daughter who was riding her bike to school in the morning (her school is about a mile away). Then I would tack on the extra miles I needed to finish up the run. I have also run with my daughters at one time or another. We have our BEST talks while out for a run! While my younger daughter was in soccer, I would run laps around the soccer field while she was practicing and could get 4 miles in that way. Also, my husband and I trained for two marathons together – talk about bonding time – 4 hours long runs are good for that! I admit there were times when the running dominated my time – especially when getting closer to my marathon date – but my family has been very supportive! Lately I have been on a hiatus from really long running while jamming on my candidacy and dissertation, but I am going to reward myself with a marathon after I graduate in August!

Last – you have to find YOUR rhythm, your routine that matches your cycle (early morning or late nighter), your family situation (young kids, older kids), your circumstances (run in the neighborhood, run at lunch, run at the gym after work). It helps to have a partner in your life who can pick up the slack when you need a little extra consideration and in my case to have a job that is flexible with hours and work location.

A few confessions: I started regular running when I was turning 40 (my first 5K), ran my first marathon at age 44, and I am now 50 years old. I am not fast and don’t consider myself built for running (marathon PR is 4:57, half marathon PR is 2:12) short legs small stride. But that feeling i get when I get out there is priceless – I love the feeling of running

Happy running all, hope you are all enjoying your very own “Running Adventures”!

I left a comment on your YouTube page (mclanek), I like the Another Mother Runner facebook page (in fact, I’ve liked them for a while now…their community has been a great encouragement to me), and commenting here. I actually have the Train Like a Mother book but not Run Like a Mother. If I won, I’d pass the “Train” book along to my friend, a mother runner newly committed to running again.

I get my workout in while my kids are in school after I come home from work in the morning. I am a 3rd shift worker, I do workouts on the weekends when I am training for a half or full marathon. This seems to be the best time for me to get my long runs in. I also have a few friends that are runners. We have created a small group of lady runners and met once or twice a week. This gives me a lttle time away from the stress of home, family, and responsibilities of being a Mom. It also gives me time to be with my friends without really taking away from my family.